Multiple chain ladder



Feb. 29, 1944. N, 1.. D AHLANDER MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 18, 1942 IIIII It All,

'IIIIIII '1' null, 11/ s Ill N. L. DAHLANDERVI 2,343,123

MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Feb; 29, 1 944.

' s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed June 18, 1942 an M v u 7/ 77 INVENTOR ATTORNEY76 QWLA DER 7a Wfi I N. L. DAHLANDER MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Filed June18, 1942 3 Sl'xeets-SheerAS l1 "LDAHLANDEI? ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29,1944 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE l g I 2,343,123

MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Noel L. Dahlander, New York, N. Y., assignor oftwo-fifths to Robert '1. Earl, New Canaan,

Conn.

Application June is, 1942, Serial No. 447,529

7 20 Claims. (01. 228-40) This invention relates to chain ladders ingeneral and more especially to multiple chain ladders suitablefordescending from dirigibles or buildings in case ofan emergency or forsome other reason or for disembarking passengers and troops fromseagoing vessels, transports'and the like inthe case of an emergency orfor some other reason.

Among the objects of the present invention, 3

it is aimed to provide an improved 'multiple chain ladder suitable fordescending from dirigibles, buildings and the like in case of anemergency or for some other reason or for disembarking passengers andtroops from seagoing vessels, transports and the like in the'case of anemergency or for some other reason.

It is, also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmultiple chain ladder which can be folded or rolled up readily in the,

interests of conserving space when packed away out of use to which end aplurality of sets of ladder rungs are mounted on chains in which therungs are staggered relative to one another to facilitate rollin orfolding up the multiple chain ladder and to conserve space.

' It is still another objectvof the present invention to provide animproved means for spacing a multiple chain ladder from the outersurface of the hull of the vessel which will not only prosuspendedpositionfor use in case of an emer gency andalso for facilitating therolling or folding up of the ladder when the same is packed up out-ofuse. These and other features capabilities and advantages of theinvention will appear from the subioined detail description of specificembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a fragmental frontelevation of a multiple chain ladder insuspended position made according to one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental front elevation of a corner ofthe-multiple chain ladder in suspended position shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail in front elevation on a, larger scale thanthat shown in Fig; 2

showing the connection between a chain link and tect the user fromhaving his hands and feet injured while climbing on the same but alsoserve as an electric insulator to prevent the formation of sparks shouldthe chains strike the outer surface of the hull of the vessel to therebyin turn reduce to a minimum the fire hazard re- I and the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved ladder rung and particularly the means for connecting the rungto the intervening chain elements which will enable reducing the cost ofmaterials and the, cost of labor for assembly to a minimum.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved multiple chain ladder and particularly ofv formin the means forspacing the ladder from the outer surface of the hull of the vessel andalso of forming the rungs of the ladder of some suitable buoyantsubstance, such as wood and the like whereby the multiple chain ladderwhen accidentally thrown into the water will not disappear to the bottomwith the danger of being lost but maintain the entire ladder afloatuntil recovered, and also in an emergency, to a certain extent,supplement 9. life saving raft or even serve as a substitute for alifesaving raft.

a rung.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3..

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail in front elevation of a modification onthe scale shown in Fig. 3 of the connection between a chain link and arung.

- Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan of the modification shown in Fig. 5 partlyin section on the line 8-8 of Fig.5

Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail of still another modification on the scaleshown in Fig. 3 of the connection between a chain link and 9. runs.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a spacer on the scale shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lli'-lll of Fig. 9.

-Fig. 11 ,is a front elevation of a portion of another form of spacer onthe ,scale shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line iI-l! of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation partly in diagrammatic form insuspended'position 'on the scale in Fig. l of a multiple chain ladderequipped with means to facilitaterolling up the same.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 13. r

It is 3.150311 object of the present invention k 2 i 3 i n 2,822,128

Fig. 18 is a fragmental front elevation of still another form ofconnection between a chain and a rung on a slightly smaller scale thanthat shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figjlfl.

ofv a bracket associated with a multiple chain ladder and the railing ofa vessel.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 2 and 10, there isillustrated a multiple chain ladder which is composed of a plurality oflongitudinally extending chains 2 which in turn are connected near theirupper ends by the transversely extending chain 2. connected to the chain2 at intervals of about 12 inches from oneanother. When the links ofwhich the chains 2 and 2 are composed, are of the type generally knownas the "Lock Link" type, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, then the chain2 alternately passes over and under the successive longitudinallyextending chains 2, with the loop 4' of the chain 2 as an instancepassing over the loop 2 of the chain 2, the loop 2 of the chain passingunder the loop 1 of the next succeeding chain 2, and the loop 2 passingover the loop 2 of the next succeeding chain 2. The loops 4, 2 and 2cross the loops 2, I and 2 respectively where they are anchored to oneanother as shown in my co-pending application for patent executed on orabout June 6, 1942, Serial No. 446,485, that is by means of four ringsfor each connection. Since the several connections are identical, theone for connecting the loops 4 and 2 alone will be described. The ringl2 passes over the shank portion H of the loop 4 and under the shankportion l2 of the loop I,

, and ring l2 passes over the shank portion ll of the loop 4 andunder-the shank portion l4 of the loop I, the ring I! passes over theshank portion i2 of the loop 4 and under the shank portion l4 of theloop 2, and the ring "passes over the shank portion ll of the loop 4 andunder the shank portion l2 of the loop 2. Obviously other connectingmeans could he used such as shown in my co-pending application abovereferred to without departing from the general spirit of the 1 inventionherein disclosed.

periphery as a wear receiving surface to engage the ring 22. The upperends of each of the remaining chains 2 are preferably similarlyconnected to lash receivingrings such as the ring 22, but since theseconnections and rings are substantially identical, it will beunnecessary to repeat the aforesaid description with regard to each ofthe rings bearing the reference character 24 in Fig. l.

The ladder rungs 22 in this embodiment are Thechains2are' as an instanceof wood, of about 12 inches in length and provided with metal clips 21and 22 one at each end, see Figs. 3 and 4: The wood bars 22 arepreferably rectangular in cross section with the corners rounded off asshown, the rectangular cross section facilitating a flrm grip by theuser, and the rounded corners in turn eliminating any sharp edges thatmight injure the hand of the user when engaging the rungs in lo the usethereof.

To serve not only as a reinforcement for the rungs against splittingwhen composed of a substance such as wood, and also to cooperate withthe links of the chains 2 to prevent the metal 15 of the chains 2cutting into the ends of the rungs 22 with wear, the metal rings 22 areprovided which are fitted into the circular recesses ing flanges 22 and2| which extend laterally along the sides of the bar 22 over the ring 22and has a grooved extension 22. The flanges 22 and 2| preferably havetwo screws 22 and 24 extending from one flange 22, through the bar 25 22into screw threaded connection with the other flange 2| as shown, inwhich case the heads 22 and 22 are countersunk, and the screw threadedends 21 and 22 are burred as shown, so that the threads are flxedagainst displacement.

o The grooved extension 22, as particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.pivotally receives the shank portion 22 of the link 42 in which case theshank portion 22 composed of metal will be engaged by the ring 22 of thecurved extension 22 of the. 35 metal clip 22 to protect the end of thewooden the other, with the rungs 22 between any set of 40 successivechains. constituting one set of rungs in staggered relation to the nextsucceeding set of was and so on. In the present instance,

however, the alternate sets of rungs. see Fig. l,

are in alinement with one another. This ar- 4s rangement of the rungscontributes materially to the flexibility and adaptability of themultiple chain ladder for folding or rolling the same when not in use.

Another form of connection between a rung and chain is shown in theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the bar 4| asain ispreferably composed of wood and rectangular in cross section but withrounded corners, as shown. and the end .portion rounded and threaded toto receive the cylindrical metal portion 42 of the ferrule 44 having theextension 42 provided with a loop 42 at the end thereof, see Fig. 6,pivotally to receive the shank portion" of the link 42. the portion 42being flrst screw threadedly con- .eo nected to the rounded end of thebar by the threads I42 and then secured against unscrewing by the pinI44.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 2 there is illustrated anotherform of connection 22 between a rung and chain particularly suited for arung 42 composed of cylindrical metal stock such as shown havingdiametrically opposed slits 22 and 2| at the ends thereof to receivelinks such as the link 22 against turning with the free end 10 thereofextending through the metal 22 and preferablycomposed of a main bar 22comp sed 72 the vessel in order to protect the hands of the In theembodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10. instead of the metal diskssuch as the disks It, serving as spacers, there are provided the splitwooden blocks or spools It each composed of two'semi-cylindricalcomplemental halves la and II having central recesses I1 and is whichregister withone another'to form a central opening for the compositeblock is to receive a link, such as the 'link It ofa chain 2. The twocomplemental halves I! and I! are preferably connected to one another bytwo screws I. and II. the heads I! of which fit into the recesses II andthe nuts 04 of which are screw threaded into place in the recesses ll.

- In Figs. 11- and 12, another type oi wooden spacer block is shown, seethe block so the complemental" halves t1 and I! of which are connectedby two screws la and .II which in this instance extend through a link,such as the link ll 'of the chain Iasshowminstead of being embedded in'the wood to either side of thechain 2, as shown in the embodiment ofl'igs. 9 and 10.

Here also the heads 12 and ll of the screws Cl and II respectively are'both positioned in one and the same recess 14 and the nuts II and I!:are screw threaded in place on the screws I! and -10 respectively inone and the same -recess l1. with spacer blocks such as the blocks"shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and such as the blocks Ii shown chainandthq-side or the vessel so as to prevent the formation of sparks'as aninstance when the chain I is swung against the vessel as the resultofrough water or a storm.' The value of such insulation especially whenthe yesseljis an oil tanker is of course obvious. Y Y 1 Furthermore,when therungs II are composed of wood and supplemented by the spacers asor it, also of wood, sumcient buoyancy is ordinarily aiiorded to thechain should it fall into the water accidentally [thereby to prevent Iit from dropping down to the bed, of the water.

In actual practice, excellent results have been achieved when thespacers such as the spacers l4, see-Pig. 1. are mounted on every otherchain I 8, with one set'. asan instance, the blocks ll,

placed two feet belowthe rings II and-onthe third, seventh and eleventhchains designated 2.

counting from theright. The next set of blocks II, as an instance, theset .II, are staggered-relative to the blocks is being positioned on thefirst, flfthand ninth chains designated! countin'gfroin therl'ght, thisset I! being spaced about one foot down from the levelof the blocks 18.

It will be desirable to Provide the chain I with additional blocks It,as an instance the blocks 1 ll mounted farther down as an instance atleast three feet below the level of the blocks ll, which blocks llwould'again preferably be mounted on the third, seventh and eleventhchains counting an' -instance the beyond theleveiof the blocks-Ii, thenat inter- 'vals of about three feet'there would be disposed Additionalsets or oneoa more rows of blocks *nleir as the sets la and II. and thesets II and II.

in Figs. 11 and 12, the chain] is provided'with an electric insulatortointervene between the there is illustrated another form of multiplechain ladder designated II. The arrangement of the. longitudinallyextending chains II and the rungs at is substantially identical to thatof the chains 2 and rungs II respectively of the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 1. This embodiment is different in the arrangement of the spacerblocks as and in the addition of booms or poles such as the poles at,81. and It The first pole It is preferably positioned two feet below theborder chain II at the top of the ladder II, the next pole or ispositioned about ten feet-below the pole II, the pole as about ten feetstill lower down. and the pole at in the present instance at the lowerend of the multiple chain ladder it. Those poles It, 81, as and 8!, maybe made of metal but preferably are composed of some suitable buoyantmaterial such as wood and of about three inches in diameter. The polesll. 81 and as preferably'have eyelets ll formedrthoreon to beinterlocked with links of the longitudinally extending chains It, withthe poles located on the rear side ,of the multiple chain-ladder i sothat they may not only serve as positioning means for the chains as andto maintain the chains as spread out relative to one another but alsoserve the side of the" vessel and thereby protect'the hands of theusers. When serving as spacers the poles at. 81 and II and also the'poleIt may supplement the 'blocks 8| and also the special metal spacer disksIf such as shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18. The 'pivotal connections of thechains It in the loops 32 can still be used to advantage when the boomsor poles II to 89 are used to compensate for the swaying or rolling of avessel. these pivotal-connections nevertheless permitting slight pivotal"motion at these points and thereby protecting the-chain links from theexcessive shearing force that would otherwise be transmitted to thelinks connected to the rungs, if no such-pivotal movement werepermitted. However, when the multiple ladders are used at the stem orhow of a vessel in order to compensate for the curvature generally therepresent, the booms and poles will be omitted to enable the ladder freelyto bend in the loops :2 to conform to the curvature of the vessel.

The blocks 8! when used with the poles at to II are preferably spacedfrom one another and staggered as shown. As an instance the upper row ofblocks as would be disposed about two feet above the Pole 01 and mountedon the second,- sixth and tenth chains as counting from the right, thenext lower row of blocks I might be positioned as close as one footbelow the pole I1 and mounted on the fourth and eighth chains l3counting from the-right.

The lowermost pole is is preferably provided with two sets of eyelets,one set ofseyelets II to receive links at the lower ends of the chainsII, and another set ofeyelets as to receive" the lanyards or dragropcslll having floats Ill at ."1: In the embodiment shown in Figs. 13and 14 1' intervals of five to ten feet. These lanyards may be composedof ordinary hemp and be as long as fifty feet, and the floats I-Ipreferably are composed of some suitable buoyant material such as wood,and spherical in form and about two and one-half inches in diameter.Furthermore these lanyards I00 by the aid of the floats IOI are intendedto ride on the surface of the water at the end of the ladder 82 to serveas life saving ropes for the users of the ladder should any of them fallinto the water. Furthermore the poles 88 to 88, inclusive, the spacers85 and the floats- IOI will cooperate to aid in preventing the ladderfrom dropping down to the bed of the sea, should it accidentally bereleased, and aid in maintaining the same afloat long enough to enable amember of the crew to retrieve it.

When a pole is secured to the lower ends of the chains 83, as aninstance, the pole 88, it will materially aid in cooperating with ahalyard such as the rope I02 shown in Figs. 13 and 14 to enable rollingup the ladder 83 into a compact package for storage on the deck or otherplace. case, the halyard I02 is anchored at one end as an instance bythe pin I03 or other suitable securing means to the side of the vessel,the halyard I02 then wrapped around the pole 88 two or three turns andthe other free end secured to the deck of the vessel where it can bereadily grasped for manipulation of the pole 89. The wrappings I04 ofthe halyard I02 are preferably made around the portion of the pole 89extending beyond the outer longitudinally extending chain 83. Preferablyalso both free ends of the pole 88 are so equipped with halyards such asthe halyard I02. Thereupon at the appointed time, when it is desired toroll up the chain 82 the free ends I05 of the halyards I02 at both endsIn such of the ladder 82 will be grasped and pulled upwardly whereby inturn the pole 88 will rotate and at the same time wrap the chain 82around it as the pole 88 is raised.

In order to maintain the halyard I02 adjacent to an outer free edge ofthe ladder 82, and to guide the halyard I02 the portion of the halyardI02 between the pin I08 and the pole 88 will extend through the loops ofthe links I08 preferably of the Lock Link" type connected by a rivetI01, see Fig. 19, to a link I08 of the outer chain 88 of the ladder 82.In order to connect the link I08 to the link I08 its looped ends arespread apart to receive the link I08 between them whereupon a rivet I0!is passed through the looped ends I06 and the link I08 as shown in Fig.19 and secured in place in the usual way.

In some instances it may be desirable not to roll up the ladder 82 butmerely to fanfold it or flake it, in which case a single length halyardI08, see Fig. 15, is connected to a free end of the lower pole H0 andsuch halyard I08 extend upwardly through links III, such as the linksI06 shown in Fig. 8. In this case when it is desired to fanfold or flakethe ladder shown in Fig. 15 it is only necessary for the member of thecrew to engage the free end I I2 and draw upwardly on the same toelevate the pole H0 and thereby simultaneously fanfold or flake the restof the ladder into folded or packed condition.

When it is desired to use the spacer disks 82 shown in Figs. 16, 17 and18, the rungs 84, as an instance the rung III. may nevertheless becomposed of some suitable buoyant material such as wood, the disk formedof metal and cooperate with a metal clip' II4 now to be described. Thedisks 82 in the present instance are disposed at the opposite ends ofrung II8 and have a diamm. In addition, see Fig. 1a, the'disk a: isprovided with two curved slots III and H8 to receive the parallel armsII8 of the clip II4 which extend through the openings I I1 and Ill andthen engage the outer opposite faces of the rung II 8 and are theresecured in place by suitable pins or screws I20 and I2I. The clip IIIhas a looped end I22 extending from the free end of the rung III andoutside of the disk 82 as shown in Fig. 16 pivotally to receive a shankportion I28 of the adjacent link I24 of the adjacent chain 88,

In view of the foregoing it will thus appear that when the rungs 84, thespacers II, the poles 88 to 88 inclusive and the floats IOI are allcomposed of some suitable buoyant material such as wood, they will veryeffectively cooperate with one another to maintain the ladder 82 afloatuntil retrieved should it accidentally be released. Furthermore to alimited extent it may also serve as a life raft in case of an emergency.

In some instances in addition to the spacers 54 shown in Fig. 1 or thespacers. 88 shown in Fig. 11 or the spacers 85 and 82 shown in Fig. l3,a bracket such as illustrated in Fig. 20 may be provided. This bracketmay consist of an arm I25, or a plurality of arms I25 pivoted to theside plate I28 of the vessel adjacent the uprights I21 of the railingI28. The outer end of each of such arms I25 is pivotally connected to abar or link I28 having a hooked or crooked end I30. These bars I25 andI28 may be folded up to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 20 whenout of use, or disposed in extended position, the full line position,with the crook I engaging the rod I3| of the railing I28. A multiplechain ladder I32 such as the chain ladder shown in Fig. 1 as an instanceis provided with a plurality of rings such as the rings I33 at the upperend thereof which are lashed to the railing I28 by the lanyards orlashings "4.. When the multiple chain ladder I32 is stored on deck it isrolled up into the roll I35 shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 20. Ifon the other hand the ladder I82 is to be extended in use, the sets ofarms I 25 and I28 are first extended into the fullline position shown inFig. 20 and then the ladder I82 swung over the railing I28 to engage thebar I36 forming the pivot point of a plurality of arms I25 and I28,intum to be spaced from the side I81 of the vessel as shown in Fig. 20.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may-be made to thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit,

each end thereof, the clip also having a loop.

formed adjacent the free end of a rung to receive a shank portion oialink of one of said longitudinally extending chains.

2. The combination of a plumlity of longitudinally extending suspensorymembers having chain links including longitudinally extending shankportions, a plurality of rungs including bars composed of wood, therebeing annular recesses in the ends oi! each of said bars, a metal ringpositioned in each oi said recesses to serve as a re-- spacer block tothe adjacent chain, the spacer blocks being spaced from one another anddistributed throughout the ladder effectively to space the ladder fromthe side of a vessel or the like. 7. The combination oi a plurality oflongitudinally extending parallel chains, a plurality of rigid rungs andspacers, and means for connecting said rungs and spacers to links ofsaid chains and spaced from one another to form a plurality ofinforcement against splitting the bar, a metal pa a l l dd s deffectively to spa the clip having side arms to engage the sides of eachbar adjacent its end and also having a loop adjacent the end of each barto receive a shank portion of an adjacent chain link, and means forsecuring the side arms of each clip to its wooden bar, and the barsbeing spaced along said longitudinally extending chains to form aplurality of adjacent ladders.

3. The combination of a plurality of longitudinally extending suspensorymembers having chain ders from the side of a vessel or the like, eachspacer connected to a chain independent of any other spacer or chain andthe connecting means between said rungs and chains being pivotal about alongitudinally extending axis.

8. The combination of a plurality of parallel longitudinally extendingshank portions, 9. plurality of rigid rungs, metal clips having sidearms connected to the sides of said run s and looped links includinglongitudinally extending shank.

portions, a plurality of rungs including rigid bars composed of abuoyant material, clips, each cliphaving a cylindrical portion toreceive oneend of a bar and having a loop adjacent each endof a bar, theloops receiving the shank portions of links of said longitudinallyextending chains, and the bars being spaced along said longitudinallyextending chains to form a plurality of adjacent ladders.

4. The combination of a plurality of parallel suspensory members havingchain links including longitudinally extending shank portions, aplurality oi rigid rungs. means for pivotally connecting the ends of therungs spaced from one another to shank portions of adjacent chains toform a plurality of parallel ladders, said connecting means eachincluding a metal clip having a loop formed adjacent the free end of arung to receive a shank portion of a link of one of said suspensorymembers, and spacers connected to said chains to space the rungs fromthe side of a vessel or the like when in use, the rungs and spacersbeing composed oi a buoyant material to cooperate with one another tofacilitate retrieving the. chain should it accidentally drop into thewater.

. 5. The combination of a. plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting theends of the rungs spacedfrom one another to links of adjacent chains to form a plurality ofparallel ladders, spacer blocks composed of a buoyant material andincluding two complemental semi-cylindrical portions having registeringrecesses to form a central opening to receive links of said chains, andmeans for anchoring the two complemental portions to one another inlooking position with the chains, the spacer blocks being spaced fromone another and distributed throughout the ladder effectively to spacethe ladder from the side or a vessel or the like.

6. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality oi!rigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting the ends or the rungs spacedfrom one another to links of adjacent chains to form a plurality ofparallel ladders, spacer blocks composed of wood and including twocomplemental semi-cylindrical portions having registering recesses toform central openings to receive links of said chains, and fasteningmeans, each extending through the two portions and intercepted link orthe adjacent chain to anchor the two complemental portions to oneanother to portions adjacent the free ends of said rungs, and spacerdisks having slits to receive said side armsiand having flanges toengage the'sides of said rungs adjacent their free ends, the looped :5portions receiving shank portions of adjacent chain links, said rungsbeing spaced from one another to form. a plurality of parallel laddersand said disks being eilectlve to space the ladders from the side of avessel or the like.

9. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting the ends of. the rungs tolinks of adjacent chains to form a plurality of adjacent parallelladders, a border chain connected as to the upper ends of said parallelchains to receive lashings for connecting the ladders to the rail of avessel, a plurality of brackets each including an arm pivotallyconnected to the side of a vessel, a second arm having a securing hookat 40 one end thereof. and a common bar forming the pivotal point forconnecting said first and second arms to one another to also formabutment for said ladders to space the same from the side of the vesselwhen in use. r

10. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting said rungs spaced from oneanother to said chains to form a multiple ladder, such connecting meanseach including a metal clip having a loop formed adjacent the free endof a rung to receive a shank portion of a link 0! one of saidlongitudinally extending chains. and transversely extending formmaintaining means loosely connected to said chains to maintain saidladder spread out ready for use when extended although movable laterallyand axially relative to said chains to enable the ladder to orient itsposition relative to the structure with which it is being used.

11. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting said rungs to said chainsspaced from one another to form a multiple chain ladder, booms extendingthe full width of the ladder.

said connecting means each including a metal clip engaging the sides oia rung adjacent each end thereof, the clip also having a loop formedadjacent the free end of a runs to receive a shank portion of a link ofone of said longitudinally extending chains, and means for movablyconnecting the booms to said chains spaced from one another to maintainsaid ladder spread out ready for use when extended.

12. The combination of a plurality oi. parallel iorm a composite spacerblock and to lock such 1 chains. a plurality O! gid rungs. means ior iv-8 assaia's otally connecting said rungs to said chains spaced i'rom oneanother to iorm a multiple chain ladder. booms extending the rail widthoi the ladder.

means for connecting one oi. said booms to the .lower ends oi'saidchains and the rest of said booms to said chains spaced from one anotherto maintain said ladder spread out ready for use when extended, lanyardsconnected to said lowermost boom, andrloats on said lanyards to serve asrescue lines for users in case of an emergency.

13. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting said rungs to said chainsspaced from one another to form a multiple chain ladder, booms extendingthe full width of the ladder,

and means for connecting one 01' said booms to the lower ends of saidchains and the rest 01' said booms to said chains spaced from oneanother to maintain said ladder spread out ready for use when extended,the tree endsot said lowermost boom extending beyond the chains of saidladder, halyards connected at one or their ends to the deck of a vessel,and wrapped around the free ends of said lowermost booms. with theirother ends free to be engaged by a user to roll up the ladder when it isto be stored out of use.

14. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting said rungs to said chainsspaced irom one another to form a multiple chain ladder.

wood booms extending the full width of the ladder, means ior connectingone of said-booms to the lower ends or said chains and the rest or saidbooms to said chains spaced from one another to maintain said ladderspread out ready for use when extended, the free ends of said lowermostboom extending beyond the chains of said ladder,

and halyards connected to the free ends of said lowermost boom with endsthereof tree to be engaged by a user to pack up the ladder'when it isstored out of use.

15. The combination of a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means for pivotally connecting said rungs to said chainsspaced from one another to form a multiple chain ladder,

wood booms extending the full width of theladder, means i'oi' connectingone of said booms to the lower ends of said chains and the rest or saidbooms to said chains spacedirom one another. to maintain said ladderspread out ready {or use when extended, the free ends or said lowermostboom extending beyond the chains oi said ladder,

.halyards connected to the free ends of said lowermost boom with endsthereoi free to be engaged by a user to pack up the ladder when it isstored out of use, and links spaced from one another at intervals alongthe outermost chains of said each two suspensory members to form amultiple rungs being spaced irom one another to form a ladder.

17. The combilation of a plurality oi parallel flexible longitudinallyextending suspensory members having chain links including longitudinallyextending shank members, a plurality of rigid rungs composed of abuoyant material, clips secured to said rungs and forming connectingmeans at the ends said rungs each clip having a loop to receive alongitudinally extending shank portion of a link to form a pivotalconnection between such rung and suspensory member, said rungs beingspaced from one another between ladder. and rigid booms extending alongthe rear side of, and movably connected to, said suspensory members tospace the ladder from the side of the structure along which it issuspended and to maintain the ladder spread apart although movablelaterally and axially. relative to said booms to orient the position ofthe ladder relative to the structure with which it is being used withoutconcentrating the shearing iorces on the connection between the boomsand the suspensory members. I

18. The combination 0! a plurality 01' parallel flexible longitudinallyextending suspensory members having chain links including longitudinallyextending shank members, a plurality of rigid rungs composed oi abuoyant material, and clips secured to said rungs and forming connectingmeans at the ends oi said rungs each having a loop to receive alongitudinally extending shank longitudinally extending flexiblesuspensory memladder to receive halyards and serve as guidesfor the samewhen raising or lowering said lowermost boom in turn to pack up theladder when it is stored out of use and in turn to lower it into use.

18. The combination of parallel flexible longitudinally extendingsuspensory members having chain links including longitudinally extendingshank members, a plurality oi rigid rungs composed of a buoyantmaterial, and metal clips secured to said rungs and forming connectingmeans at the ends oi said rungs each clip having aloop toreceive alongitudinally extending shank portion of a link to form a pivotalconnection between such rung and a suspensorymember, said bers, aplurality oi. rigid rungs, clips secured to the ends or said rungs andforming pivotal connections between the ends of said rungs andsaidmembers, said rungs being spaced from one another between each twosuspensory members to form a multiple ladder, means tor movablyconnectingthe upper ends'oi said suspensory members to the structurewith which said ladder is to be used, and a rigid boom movably connectedto said suspensory members to maintain theladder spread apart althoughmovable laterally and axially relative to said boom. Y

20. The combination 01' a plurality of parallel chains, a plurality ofrigid rungs, means connecting said rungs spaced irom one another to saidchains to iorm a multiple ladder, such connecting means each including ametal clip having a loop formed adjacent the free end of a rung andconnected to a linko! one or said longitudi nally extending chains, andtransversely extending form maintaining means loosely connected to saidchains to maintain said ladder spread out ready for use when extendedalthough movable laterally and axially relative to said chains to enablethe ladder to orient its position relative I to the structure with whichit is being used.

NOEL L. DAHLANDER.

